Trap and target shooting apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 2, 190.7.

8. M. MoGLOUD. TRAP AND TARGET SHOOTING APPARATUSL APPLIOATION IILBD DBO. 7. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEi TERS 2a., wAs'l-lmorou, p. c.

No. 858,895. y PATENTED JULY 2, 1907..

' s, M. mocnoup.

TRAP AND TARGET-SHOOTING. APPARATUS.

. APPLIOATIOH FILED D30. 7. 1906.

' 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENmR No. 858.895. v PATENTED JULY 2.- 1907.

s. M. MoGLOUD.

TRAP AND TARGET SHOOTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION 211.311 1130.1. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRAP AND TARGET SHOOTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju1y 2, 1907.

Application filed December 7, 1906- Serial No. 346,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SMITH M. MoGLoUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trap and Target Shooting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is especially designed for the use of trap and target shooting.

It consists in the combination of mechanism and details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view and partial section. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through acac of Fig. 2, also showing section of magazine. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the cord and lever attachments. Fig. 5 is a partial View of the front carriage plate, the latching connection with the rear carriage, and the disk revolving attachment.

My invention is designed to successively release a series of disks or plates, and to discharge them through the air so that a marksman may shoot at the flying object.

A represents a base of any suitable material and length,.this base having upturned ends as at A. Between these slots I have shown guide rods 2 which are separated from each other sufficiently to admit the disks 3 to stand edgewise between the guide rods or plates, so that by these guides, or any equivalent therefor, any plate delivered between the guides will stand vertically upon edge, and in line with the open vertical slot at the discharge end of the apparatus.

4 is a carriage slidable upon guides 5 which extend between the end plates. A parallel with each other and with the guides 2-2. The guides 5 may be conveniently disposed in a plane contiguous to the guides 2. The carriage 4 is slidable upon these guides and is impelled toward the front end by coil springs 6 which surround the guides 5.

7 are elastic buffers contiguous to the front upturned plate A, and against which the carriage or plate 4 is impelled.

8 is a carriage guided and slidable upon the base A and movable independently of the carriage 4. This second carriage has a latching device which may engage with the carriage 4 so that when the carriage 8 is re tracted it will withdraw the carriage 4 with it, and thus compress the springs 6. The disk 3 being. delivered between the guides 2 and in front of this carriage 4 when said carriage is released from the carriage 8, the

springs impel it forward with force dependent upon the stiffness of the springs, and this carriage 4 striking the disk which stands on edge between the guides, will impel it out through the vertical slot or channel in the front plate A, and to any desired distance from the apparatus.

The apparatus is preferably set at such an angle or incline that the disk may be impelled in an are through the air, and thus in plain View of the marksman who can shoot at it while flying.

10 is a vertically disposed cylinder supported in any suitable manner above the apparatus previously described, and at a point near the front end thereof.

The disks 3 are of such size that they lie horizontally within the cylinder, and there may be as great a number as required.

The bottom of the cylinder forms a crescent or are 10 which serves as a support for the disks, and these disks are released one by one, by means of a slide 11 movable so as to push the lowermost disk backwardly until its front edge is released from the supporting crescent 10. This allows the disk to drop upon the curved or inclined chute 12, and the form of the chute is such that the disk sliding down, it will have its position changed from the horizontal, which it occupies Within the holder 10, to a vertical position where it is discharged from the mouth of the chute 12, and the mouth of the chute being directly in line with the space between the guides 2, the disk will be delivered into this space, and left standing vertically as previously described.

The operation of the slide 11 is automatically per formed as follows: 13 is a leaf or plate hinged upon one side of the carriage 8, and having its outeredge inclined or beveled as shown. This plate normally lies in a horizontal position by gravitation. 14 is an inclined guide, and the outer angle of the plate 13 moves over this guide when the carriage 8 is moved forward until the plate 13 is gradually raised to such an incline that it will pass the arm of the weighted lever 15. This lever is fulcrumed as shown at 16. The upper end engages the plate 11; the lower end is curved outwardly as shown, and carries a sufiicient weight to normally retract the plate 11 into a position which allows the disks to remain within the holder 10. As the carriage 8 is moved forward the hinged plate 13 passes this lever without any action. As soon as it has passed the lever it drops down into its horizontal position, the movement of the carriage 8 being continued until it interlocks with the carriage 4. when the two carriages are then retracted'together. The inclined edge of the plate 13 will then contact with the weighted lever 15, and will push it outward, thus sliding the plate 11 inwardly until it releases a disk. After the plate 13 has passed the lever, said lever drops by gravitation and returns the sliding plate 11 to its normal position in readiness to release another disk. The hinged plate 13 is retracted with the carriage 8, passing beneath the inclined guide- 14, the latter being sufliciently elastic to allow of this movement, and after the plate has passed beyond the end of the guide 14, the latter will drop beneath the plate, thus allowing the plate to again ride over the guide when the parts are moved to the front.

The means for locking the two carriages 8 and 4 together are here shown in the form of a longitudinally disposed turnable shaft 16, having upon its front end a transverse pin 17, and the carriage or plate 4 has a slot made in it long enough in one direction to admit the pin to pass through when the two carriages are brought together, and when the shaft 16 is turned, the transverse ,pin will engage the shorter diameter of the slot, and thus hold the plates together. This is effected as follows: 18 is a lever arm projecting outwardly from the shaft 16, and having upon its outer end a weight 19 which will normally drop so that it will turn the shaft and the pin 17 into position to lock with the slot in the plate 4. In order to allow the engagement of these parts, 1 have shown a hinged inclined arm or guide 20 so located that when the carriage 8 is moved forward the weighted lever arm 18 will travel over the incline 20, pivoted at 20 and will thus turn the shaft 16 until the pin 17 coincides with the longest diameter of the locking slot in the carriage 4. When the pin has passed through the plate of this carriage 4, the weighted arm will have passed beyond the inclined guide 20, and will drop by gravitation, thus turning the shaft 16, so that the pin 17 will interlock with the slot of the plate 4 and hold the two plates together. The two are then retracted by means of a cord, rope or equivalent device 22 which is operated from the rear of the apparatus, and when the two plates are withdrawn, the plate 13 will, as previously described, actuate the slide 11 and deliver a disk into the guides in front of the two carriages where it stands in readiness to be shot out of the apparatus. Suitable latches 21 are provided, and the carriages may be retracted and latched at any desired point, the springs being as large as required for the desired projection of the disk. The latching device 21 may be of any suitable character.

In Fig. 4 1 have shown a diagrammatic view in which a lever is movable over a rack, and the ropes 22 may be connected directly, or by any intermediate device with this lever, so that by pulling the lever back, the rope will retract the carriages which may thus be latched at any desired point. A disk having been deposited in the guide channel in front of the carriages, in order to propel the disk it will only be necessary to release the spring-pressed carriage, and thus allow it to be impelled forward, striking the disk, and causing the latter to be thrown forcibly from the apparatus.

23 are ropes connecting with the carriage 8, passing over pulleys at 24 by which a change of travel of the ropes is effected, and these ropes are connected with the carriage 8 and serve to draw it to the point where it will engage with the carriage 4. These ropes may also be connected With the lever or retracting mechanism, so that by the movement of this lever or mechanism in the proper direction, the carriage 8 will be moved to a point of engagement with the carriage 4.

In order to insure the disk flying in a single plane of motion, 1 have found it desirable to give it a rotary motion as it is discharged. This is effected by means of an inclined device 25 fixed in front of the carriage 4,

and in line with the position of the disk, and when this incline strikes the disk it causes it to revolve and maintain its plane by gyroscopie action. The device 25 is illustrative of a means by which such revolution may be effected. It will be understood that any suitable device for this purpose may be employed.

In order to properly support this apparatus and allow it to be adjusted I have shown av tripod or other support 26, and by means of a jointed clamp as at 27. the apparatus may be inclined to such an angle as will be necessary, the disk being projected through the air with a sufiicient trajectory to maintain it in the air long enough for a marksman to fire. When the carriages 4 and 8 are retracted the arm 18 or the weight if) rides upon a long crank arm 28 which thus lies beneath said arm, at whatever point the carriages may be Stopped. The journaled portion of this crank shaft extends back to a point COntiguous to the rear of the apparatus, and may have a lever arm 29, or equivalent d1 vice, by which the shaft; may be turned so that the crank is raised and turns the shaft 16 so as to release the latching device and allow the carriage 4 to be propelled forward as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An apparatus including a guided carriage. means for impelling the carriage in its line of travel, guides located in the line of travel of the carriage, means for delivering disk-targets on edge between said guides in the line of travel of the carriage, and means for imparting a revolving flight to the disks.

2. An apparatus including a guided slidablc springpressed carriage, means for latching it at any point: of retraction, guides located in the line of travel of the earriage, means for automatically delivering disks on edge between said guides in the line of travel of the carriage and means carried by the carriage whereby the d' revolved whenv discharged by the impact of the cal 3. An apparatus including a guided sp1ingpressed carriage, means for retracting said carriage and latching it in a retracted position, a means for delivering dis s on edge in the path of travel of the carriage, and guides by which the disks are maintained in position, device upon the front of the carriage adapted to propel the disks by impact of the carriage when released, and to cause the disks to revolve in the plane of their discharge, and a cushion the vice at the end of the app: atus whereby the carriage is arrested at the end of the stroke.

4. An apparatus including a guided slidable springpressed carriage, a second carriage located in the rear of the first named one, a latching mechanism by which the two carriages are engaged, means by which said carri are re tracted, means by which they are held at any point: of retraction, a disk-holding receiver supported in line above the line of travel of the carriages, means for releasing the disks singly and successively when the carriages are retracted, guides between which said disks are delivered to stand on e( ge, and means for releasing the first carriage whereby the disk is impelled and discharged from the machine.

5. An apparatus consisting of a guided slidable spring pressed carriage, a second carriage, a latching means by which the two carriages may be engaged, cords by which the second carriage may be advanced to eng: e with the first carriage, other cords by which the lIWO carriages may be retracted, a mechanism by which the movements of said cords are effected in either direction, a device by which the inter-latching device may be disengaged to allow the forward carriage to be impelled by its spring, and means whereby disks are delivered and held on edge in front. of the carriage so as to be impelled and discharged from the machine by the velocity of its motion and contact.

6. An apparatus consisting of a slidable S1)lill l.,"-lllll)l.llt!ll carriage, and guides upon which it is movable, means for l l (l ceases engaging, retracting and latching said carriage, means for automatically delivering; disks on edge, guides by which the disks are maintained in position to be discharged from the apparatus by the release of the carriage, and a tripod or support with a pivot or joint upon which the apparatus is supported, and means for adjusting the angle of the apparatus and the discharge of the disks.

7. In an apparatus for the projection of objects, a reciprocable spring-pressed carriage, a second carriage slidable with relation to the first named carriage, latching means by which the two carriages may be engaged so as to be retracted in unison, a Weighted lever connected with the latching shaft, and an incline over which said lever passes when the second carriage is advanced into contact with the first carriage. said incline acting to place the latching means in position to engage and lock the carriages when brought together.

8. In an apparatus for projecting and propelling objects, a guided springpressed carriage having a centrally disposed slot, a second carriage having a revoluble shaft, with a latchingpin adapted to engage the slot of the first named carriage when brought into contact, a lever arm carried by said shaft normally holding the latch in such position as to interlock with the slot of the first named carriage. an incline over which said lever arm moves when the second carriage is advanced whereby the pin is brought into position to interlock with the slot of the first named carriage, said incline terminating so that the lever arm is dropped, and the latching means engaged at the instant when the carriages are brought into contact.

9. In an apparatus for projecting and impelling objects, a guided spring-pressed carriage, a second carriage with latching means by which the two carriages are engaged when brought together, means for retracting and retaining the connected carriages, means for delivering an object to be impelled in the line of travel of the carriages, and

means for disengaging the latch whereby the forward carriage is released to strike and impel the object.

10. In an apparatus for projecting and impelling objects, a guided spring-pressed carriage, a second carriage, latching means by which the two carriages are engaged, means for retracting and retaining the interlocked carriages with the spring-pressed means for disengaging the latch to allow the forward carriage to be impelled to the front, said means including a turnable weighted lever connected with the latch, a journaled crank arm shaft, upon the crank portion of which the outer end of the lever rests, and means for turning the crank and elevating the lever so as to release the latch. 1

11. In an apparatus for projecting and impelling objects, a guided spring-pressed carriage, a second carriage, latching mechanism by which the two carriages are engaged and through which both may be retracted and the springs compressed, a receptacle within which the disks or objects to be propelled are contained, a lever and slide by which the disks are released, one at a time and delivered in front of the impelling carriage, means for actuating said lever and slide, said means including an inclined guide, an arm hinged to the second carriage and projecting so as to travel over said guide and be tilted into such posi tion thereby as to pass the lever without contact, said plate dropping into its normal position after passing the guide so that when the interlocked carriages are retracted the plate will act upon the lever and slide to release a disk and deliver it in front of the propelling carriage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SMITH M. MCCLOUD.

Witnesses S. H. Normsn, FREDERICK E. MAYNARD. 

